Adjustable hat with formable brim

ABSTRACT

A hat comprising a bucket and a brim, which hat may have adjustable bucket diameter or brim configuration or both. The bucket diameter may be adjusted by a circumferential belt secured to the bucket by loops affixed to the latter. Length of the belt, as adjusted by modifying the length by which the belt overlaps itself, adjusts the diameter of bucket. The belt may have a fastening element such as hook and loop material to maintain the selected length. The configuration of the brim may be adjusted by for example manually bending or forming a metallic wire incorporated into the brim.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC 119(e) of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/967,673, filed Sep. 6, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. As Sep. 6, 2008 fell on a Saturday, the application is considered timely.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hats, and more particularly to a hat wherein the brim and the diameter of the bucket are adjustable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hats, particularly of the bucket type, must fit the head of the wearer. Some hats are custom made to fit well. However, dimensions of hats may change especially with variations in ambient temperatures. Therefore, even a custom fitted hat may fit poorly under some conditions.

A second characteristic of hats, and again, particularly to bucket hats, is that traditional brims are limited in their configuration and therefore in the visual impression they form.

There exists a need for hats, and especially bucket hats, which can accommodate changes in temperature, as that relates to closeness of fit. There also exists a need for hats which can display different styles of brim.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention brings adjustability to hats, especially of the bucket type. In one aspect of the invention, the bucket is provided with circumferential belt which can be adjusted in its length. This changes the overall diameter of the bucket. While the degree of adjustment is limited in that excessive constriction of the belt will eventually distort the bucket to an objectionable extent, the degree of adjustment is sufficient to result in a suitably tight fit for any one individual wearer of the hat.

The above adjustment may be provided by a belt which is disposed outside the bucket, is held in place by loops fixed to the hat, and can be selectively lengthened and shortened to relax or constrict the bucket of the hat. The belt may be retained in a selected condition of adjustment by a fastener such as hook and loop type fastener.

In another aspect of the invention, the brim is adjustable as to the final contour or configuration. Unlike the bucket, the overall dimensions do not change, but the shape and therefore the visual effect does change.

Adjustment to the brim is accommodated by incorporating into the hat a form holding yet flexible filamentary member, such as a metallic wire. The filamentary wire is selected from a material which may be readily bent and otherwise formed by hand, but which holds its new configuration.

It is an object of the invention to provide a hat which can be adjusted to individual preferences of the wearer.

In particular, one object of the invention is to enable adjustment of the overall diameter of the bucket of a hat.

A second important object of the invention is to enable adjustment to the contour of the brim of a hat.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bucket type hat according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the hat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating an adjustment to the brim of the hat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a bucket type hat 10 comprising a bucket 11 which comprises a generally circular side wall 16. It will be appreciated that the side wall 16 is in most cases other than purely circular in that it must conform to the wearer's head, which is rarely if ever purely circular. The circular side wall 16 may have an upper edge 18 and a lower edge 24.

It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as upper and lower and others refer to the drawing as viewed by an observer. Orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way.

A brim 17 projects radially outwardly from the bottom edge 24 of the bucket 11.

Both the bucket 11 and the brim 17 may be formed from generally flaccid materials, such as leather, fabrics, woven and non-woven polymeric materials, and others. Such materials are flaccid yet are form holding to one degree or another.

As employed herein, “flaccid” signifies that the subject material is readily bendable, and may deform under gravity if not restrained by a reinforcing influence. By way of example of one reinforcing influence, the hat 10 may hold its form due to its configuration. That is, because the side wall 16 forms a generally circular closed loop, and if provided with a top panel such as the top panel 22 which closes the otherwise open top of the side wall 16, the hat 10 avoids spontaneous collapse. However, the hat 10 is nonetheless susceptible to undesirable deformation such as by incidental contact with environmental objects, repositioning by the wearer, temperature fluctuations, and other effects.

Form holding signifies that the element so described has sufficient rigidity by virtue of inherent properties of the material or by its configuration or both, so as to maintain its form in the absence of outside forces other than those imposed by the mass and, where provided, elasticity of the constituent materials.

The hat 10 has at least one adjuster for adjusting a visual aspect of the bucket 11 and the brim 17. Each adjuster, the nature of which will shortly be described, is disposed to maintain the respective conditions to which each is adjusted.

A first adjuster serves the purpose of adjusting the diameter of the bucket 11. A second adjuster serves the function of adjusting a visual aspect of the brim 17.

The first adjuster may comprise at least one loop such as the loop 15 of FIG. 1, and a belt 12 which is dimensioned and configured to encircle the bucket 11 and to pass through and be retained in place against the bucket 11 by the loop 15. The belt 12 has a fastening element disposed to hold the belt 12 at a selected length.

The belt 12 may be long enough to overlap itself after encircling the bucket 11. The fastening element may comprise hook and loop fastening material comprising hook material 13 and loop material 14. The loop material 14 engages and adheres to the hook material 13 upon contact and is manually separable there from. One side of the belt 12 may bear the hook material 13 and the other side of the belt 12 may bear the loop material 14. This arrangement assures that one end of the belt 12 may engage the other end of the belt 12 without twisting the belt 12.

The loop 15 may comprise a plurality of loops 15 located about the periphery of the lower edge 24 of the bucket 11, and each spaced apart from each adjacent loop 15 (see FIG. 2). Alternatively, the loop 15 may comprise an elongated sleeve (not shown) which spans a sufficient extent of the circumferential periphery of the bucket 11 to assure that the belt 12 will perform the function described herein.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show illustrative effects of adjustment of the belt 12. In FIG. 1, the belt 12 is shown only loosely engaging the bucket 11. The bucket 11 displays sagging and non-planar configuration of the side wall 16 and of the top panel 22. In FIG. 2, the belt 12 has been drawn slightly tighter, thereby constricting the bucket 11. The bucket 11 has thereby been squeezed such that the sagging and non-planar configuration of FIG. 1 gives way to smooth, flat configuration of the side wall 16 and the top panel 22.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the second adjuster may comprise a form holding element disposed in the brim of the hat. The form holding element may comprise a manually formable filament such as a metallic wire 20. The metallic wire 20 may be located along the periphery of the brim 17.

The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concepts. For example, although the invention has been described with respect to the hat 10 including a top panel 22, a hat according to aspects of the invention need not include the top panel 22. The top of the side wall 16 may be open. Alternatively, the top of the hat 10 may be domed, conical, or otherwise configured (these variations are not shown).

Locations of features of the invention may be varied from those shown. For example, the belt 12 and the loops 15 may be concealed within the side wall 16 rather than outside the side wall 16 as shown. Also, the belt 12 may be located anywhere along the vertical dimension of the side wall 16, where of course the vertical dimension refers to the drawing figures as rendered. The precise location is not critical to the invention. The location merely need assure that the belt 12 be operable as described to modify the appearance of the bucket 11.

Components of a hat according to any aspect of the invention may be incorporated into the hat or alternatively may be separate there from. For example, the belt 12 may be arranged to drop into place over the bucket 11, rather than being held to the bucket 11 by the loops 15.

Components presented in the singular may be provided in the plural. Where feasible, it would be possible to provide a single component rather than a plurality of components. For example, the wire 20 may comprise a plurality of wire segments (not shown) rather than a single length filament. Along a similar vein, the belt 12 may comprise joined sections (not shown) rather than comprising a single strip of material.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible. 

1. A hat comprising a bucket comprising a generally circular side wall having a upper edge and a lower edge, a brim projecting generally radially outwardly from the lower edge of the bucket, and an adjuster for adjusting the diameter of the bucket, wherein the adjuster fully encircles the bucket, and comprises a fastening element which is disposed to maintain the diameter to which the belt is adjusted.
 2. The hat of claim 1, further comprising at least one loop fixed thereto; and wherein the adjuster comprises a belt which is dimensioned and configured to encircle the bucket and to pass through and be retained in place against the bucket by the at least one loop, and which has a fastening element disposed to hold the belt in a selected length.
 3. The hat of claim 2, wherein the fastening element comprises hook and loop fastening material comprising hook material and loop material which engages and adheres to the hook material upon contact and which is manually separable there from, wherein one side of the belt bears the hook material and the other side of the belt bears the loop material.
 4. The hat of claim 2, wherein the at least one loop comprises a plurality of loops located about the circumferential periphery of the lower edge of the bucket, and wherein each loop is spaced apart from each adjacent loop.
 5. The hat of claim 1, further comprising a form holding element disposed in the brim of the hat.
 6. The hat of claim 5, wherein the form holding element is located along the periphery of the brim.
 7. The hat of claim 5, wherein the form holding element comprises a manually formable filament.
 8. The hat of claim 7, wherein the manually formable filament comprises a metallic wire.
 9. A hat comprising a bucket further comprising a generally circular side wall having a upper edge and a lower edge, a brim projecting generally radially outwardly from the lower edge of the bucket, a first adjuster for adjusting the diameter of the bucket, and a second adjuster for adjusting a visual aspect of the brim, wherein the first adjuster and the second adjuster are each disposed to maintain the respective conditions to which each is adjusted, wherein the first adjuster comprises a plurality of loops located about the circumferential periphery of the lower edge of the bucket, and wherein each loop is spaced apart from each adjacent loop, and a belt which is dimensioned and configured to encircle the bucket and to pass through and be retained in place against the bucket by each one of the loops, and which has hook and loop fastening material comprising hook material and loop material which engages and adheres to the hook material upon contact and which is manually separable there from, wherein one side of the belt bears the hook material and the other side of the belt bears the loop material, wherein the hook and loop fastening material is disposed to hold the belt in a selected length; and the second adjuster comprises a metallic wire located along the periphery of the brim. 